China to strengthen Kenya ties

It would also provide US$ 20 billion as grants to African countries to assist them in development

The Chinese Government will promote investment in through its firms and foreign aid to improve China-Kenya relations.

The Chinese Government said it is implementing measures of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which will help strengthen the China-Kenya relationship.

Issues discussed in the conference convened in Beijing last year will help steadily promote foreign-aid programmes, continue to expand foreign-aid trainings, earnestly promote transition as well as promote upgrading of project contracting.

They will also help to vigorously enhance bilateral trade development and actively encourage more Chinese enterprises to invest in Kenya and Africa.

Chinese Embassy to Kenya Chief of Communications and Public Affairs Shifan Yu said at a news conference held in their offices yesterday that Chinese President Hu Jintao had announced at the conference that China would provide Sh1,740 billion (US$ 20 billion) as grants to African countries to assist them in developing infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, small and medium sized enterprises in the next three years.

Yu said the China-Africa economic and trade cooperation has made remarkable achievements and they are actively devoted to deepen the relations and become Africa’s largest trade partner.

Trade volume

“Between January and December last year, China-Africa trade volume reached Sh14,259.3 billion (US$163.9 billion), an increase of 20 per cent from the previous year. Africa has become one of the new destinations of China’s overseas investment,” he said.

He added: “Between January and October 2012, China’s non-financial direct investment to Africa reached Sh130.5 billion (US$1.5 billion), an increase of 17 per cent compared to 2011.”

He said the number of Chinese enterprises in Africa exceed 2,000 covering areas of agriculture, telecommunications, energy, processing and manufacturing and catering among others.